Sunday's letters: Game of chess?

Published: Sunday, July 6, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 2:20 p.m.

To the editor: What the Times-News (June 27) sees as a win-win for health care is actually a lose-lose for the nation. The planned construction of yet another duplication of health care services in the region highlights the why of bloated prices and stymied reform. What has all this competition led to? Valet parking, boutique menus and administrators’ salaries that rival K Street lobbyists — an industry instead of a public service.

According to Becker’s Hospital Review, “CEOs at some of the largest hospitals earned anywhere from a low of $540,000 to a high of $6.07 million. And “the average nonprofit hospital CEO earned $600,000 annually, although the median compensation was $405,000,” according to JAMA. The CEO of our own N.C. Blue Cross Blue Shield earns shy of $3 million.

Are the hospital CEOs in our region making more than the governor? You can bet they are. No wonder the industry fights health care reform.

The nation is losing. Health care eats 17 percent of our gross domestic product (cms.gov) as opposed to 9 percent to 10 percent of the GDP of other countries with national health care.

The building of another health care center by Park Ridge may be a game of chess, but it is the citizens of this country that just got checkmated.

Eva L. Ritchey

Hendersonville

Myopic vision

To the editor: The ability of Raymond Dyer (“The correct choice,” June 28) to recite Old Testament scripture in support of his worldview is impressive. It is exceeded only by his stunning arrogance when he asserts that “Throughout history, the Bible has served as the absolute authority of truth.”

Whose history? The history of American Indians? The tribes of Islam? The Harappan of the Indus Valley? The Aleuts? The Chinese? The Maya? (I could go on.)

Did God not create these non-Christians as well as Mr. Dyer and whomever he sees with his myopic vision? And what of the scientists throughout history who have contributed so much to humankind who held that the “absolute authority of truth” was what could be proven?

It is wonderful that Mr. Dyer can practice his religion as he sees fit. That is one of the most prized rights bestowed by our Constitution. Just don’t get carried away, Mr. Dyer. Please.

Ron Redmon

Flat Rock

Wrong analysis

To the editor: In his June 29 letter, Ed Nielsen stated his belief that the negative feedback he received regarding his trickle-down theory of economics was because he had not been sufficiently clear in his earlier letter. In fact, the negative feedback was because he had been perfectly clear, and absolutely wrong.

He seems to believe that major corporations led by people making millions of dollars per year operate on the same basis as the corner hardware store. If a company president pays higher personal income taxes, there will be no impact on the employees’ wages or benefits.

With respect to fairness, those making millions have been the clear beneficiaries of our economic system. They also benefit most from the safety, security and infrastructure provided by all levels of government. As such, it is only fair that they contribute to the source of those benefits.

Finally, some of our greatest periods of prosperity have been during times when the marginal tax rate was higher than it is today. So Mr. Nielsen’s economic analysis just does not hold up against the facts. But then, the trickle-down theory of economics is part of the right’s fact-free worldview.

<p>To the editor: What the Times-News (June 27) sees as a win-win for health care is actually a lose-lose for the nation. The planned construction of yet another duplication of health care services in the region highlights the why of bloated prices and stymied reform. What has all this competition led to? Valet parking, boutique menus and administrators' salaries that rival K Street lobbyists — an industry instead of a public service.</p><p>According to Becker's Hospital Review, “CEOs at some of the largest hospitals earned anywhere from a low of $540,000 to a high of $6.07 million. And “the average nonprofit hospital CEO earned $600,000 annually, although the median compensation was $405,000,” according to JAMA. The CEO of our own N.C. Blue Cross Blue Shield earns shy of $3 million.</p><p>Are the hospital CEOs in our region making more than the governor? You can bet they are. No wonder the industry fights health care reform.</p><p>The nation is losing. Health care eats 17 percent of our gross domestic product (cms.gov) as opposed to 9 percent to 10 percent of the GDP of other countries with national health care.</p><p>The building of another health care center by Park Ridge may be a game of chess, but it is the citizens of this country that just got checkmated.</p><p><em>Eva L. Ritchey</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Myopic vision</h3>
<p>To the editor: The ability of Raymond Dyer (“The correct choice,” June 28) to recite Old Testament scripture in support of his worldview is impressive. It is exceeded only by his stunning arrogance when he asserts that “Throughout history, the Bible has served as the absolute authority of truth.”</p><p>Whose history? The history of American Indians? The tribes of Islam? The Harappan of the Indus Valley? The Aleuts? The Chinese? The Maya? (I could go on.)</p><p>Did God not create these non-Christians as well as Mr. Dyer and whomever he sees with his myopic vision? And what of the scientists throughout history who have contributed so much to humankind who held that the “absolute authority of truth” was what could be proven?</p><p>It is wonderful that Mr. Dyer can practice his religion as he sees fit. That is one of the most prized rights bestowed by our Constitution. Just don't get carried away, Mr. Dyer. Please.</p><p><em>Ron Redmon</em></p><p><em>Flat Rock</em></p><h3>Wrong analysis</h3>
<p>To the editor: In his June 29 letter, Ed Nielsen stated his belief that the negative feedback he received regarding his trickle-down theory of economics was because he had not been sufficiently clear in his earlier letter. In fact, the negative feedback was because he had been perfectly clear, and absolutely wrong.</p><p>He seems to believe that major corporations led by people making millions of dollars per year operate on the same basis as the corner hardware store. If a company president pays higher personal income taxes, there will be no impact on the employees' wages or benefits.</p><p>With respect to fairness, those making millions have been the clear beneficiaries of our economic system. They also benefit most from the safety, security and infrastructure provided by all levels of government. As such, it is only fair that they contribute to the source of those benefits.</p><p>Finally, some of our greatest periods of prosperity have been during times when the marginal tax rate was higher than it is today. So Mr. Nielsen's economic analysis just does not hold up against the facts. But then, the trickle-down theory of economics is part of the right's fact-free worldview.</p><p><em>Duane Johnson</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>